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Freelancing for Global Lingo

This post was written by Elliott Gresswell, one of Global Lingo’s freelance writers. Elliott is a real character much beloved by our London team; he never fails to brighten their day when he drops by to pick up some tech or have an in-person debrief on a more complicated project. Always dapper, Elliott was the freelancer who posed with his wonderful Indiana Jones-style hat for ‘Wear a Hat’ day. Elliott is a freelance writer who, when not working for us, writes online content on a variety of subjects and creates computer game scripts.

Freelancing for Global Lingo: What exactly is my job?

Whenever I’m asked this by friends or family, I suddenly become very aware of how easily the words “freelance writer” can be mistaken for “currently unemployed.” It’s not an unfair confusion; surviving as a freelance writer is extremely challenging at the best of times, apt to involve long dry spells, erratic client demands, and endless hours spent chasing errant payments. It can be unforgiving game.

Which is why I’m very grateful for my relationship with Global Lingo.

I first discovered Global Lingo back in 2013, through a job advert on The Guardian’s website — an advert for which I applied based principally on two grounds:

The company website put a lot of emphasis on how much Global Lingo valued its writers — permanent employees and freelancers alike.

Since then I’ve been a regular contributor to Global Lingo’s London office, and I’m pleased to say that Global Lingo has more than lived up to its initial promises. It’s a company which offers freelancers a reliable stream of diverse assignments, but still allows them to manage their own schedule and remain flexible enough to take on other commitments.

So what does a typical day involve, for a Global Lingo freelance writer?

Well… actually, that question is a little tricky to answer, because there isn’t a standard template. There are two primary duties I undertake for Global Lingo on a regular basis: transcription and minute-taking. The former involves reproducing audio content verbatim, with the odd tidied-up transcript thrown in for good measure and better punctuation, while minute-taking involves attending and writing up summaries of meetings for various client companies.

But within those parameters, Global Lingo offers an impressive melange of assignment types and locations. One day I might be taking notes on a solemn employee misconduct hearing at a giant corporation — the next, I could be summarising an international accounting conference, or the scientific agenda of a medical research charity, or even transcribing a speech by the Prime Minister himself.

There can be an element of whiplash, in switching rapidly from subject to subject, but at least things are never boring! Occasionally these assignments even involve travelling abroad; Global Lingo has offices as far afield as Singapore to assist with global coverage. Other meetings can be attended remotely, from the comfort of one’s own home, which is definitely a boon for those of us who need to remain in close proximity to the kettle at all times.

All in all, for me, Global Lingo has become that rarest of boons to any freelancer; a dependable employer with care for its craft, interesting work, and (let’s be honest about our priorities here) a policy of paying on time. So if you’re a freelance writer — or somebody who wants to be one — and you’re looking for a fresh opportunity, I heartily recommend heading over to this link and giving Global Lingo a try.